Fact check: Beach wave video from 2017 in South Africa, not related to Turkey earthquake
The claim: Video shows tsunami striking Turkey after recent earthquake
A Feb. 6 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows people running and screaming as large waves wash over a beach.
"Tsunami Hits Turkey Shore," reads the video's caption.
The video was viewed more than 4,000 times in three days.
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Our rating: False
The footage is from 2017 and shows large waves striking a beach in South Africa, not Turkey.
Video captured in South Africa
More than 21,000 people are dead and tens of thousands injured after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6. However, the footage in the social media post is not related to this tragedy.
Instead, it shows large waves striking a beach in Durban, South Africa. The video is featured in local media articles from 2017 describing the incident.
It was also uploaded to YouTube in 2017.
Fact check: Viral image is a stock photo from 2018, not from Turkey earthquake
Since the earthquake occurred in Turkey and Syria, USA TODAY has debunked multiple claims wrongly linking footage and photographs to the disaster. For instance, some social media users claimed footage of an Indonesian tsunami and a stock photo of a dog were related to the crisis.
USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment.
The video was also debunked by Reuters.
Our fact-check sources:
USA TODAY, Feb. 9, 19,300 dead in Turkey, Syria earthquake: Death toll among worst in recent history, surpassing 2011 Japan disaster
USA TODAY, Feb. 9, Earthquake death toll over 21,000; Turkey evacuates thousands; UN aid reaches Syria: Updates
Google Maps, accessed Feb. 9, South Beach, Durban, South Africa
News 24, March 13, 2017, ALERT: More 5m Spring Tide swells expected along Durban beach following monster waves
The Citizen, March 12, 2017, WATCH: Durban ‘mini tsunami’ waves batter beachfront
Town Press SA (YouTube), March 13, 2017, Mini Tsunami hits Durban South in South Africa
Reuters, Feb. 7, Fact Check-Years-old video of tidal wave in South Africa wrongly linked to 2023 Turkey earthquake
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Wave video from South Africa, not Turkey earthquake
